Toilet



March 9, 1937. c. T. GIBLETTE TO'ILET Filed Oct. 19, 1932 INVENTOR.

Mam

Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOILET Catherine T.Giblette, Detroit, Mich. Application October 19, 1932, Serial No. ceases11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in toilets; and the objects of myimprovement are, first to provide a toilet especially adapted for theuse of infants or invalids; second, to provide a toilet r, enclosed in acontainer of the portable typ third,

to provide a toilet provided with means for preventing contents andodors from escaping therefrom; fourth, to provide a toilet having amovable protective device between its cover andvesm sel; flfth, toprovide a toilet having a deflector means; sixth, to provide a toiletwith liquid tight compartments therein; seventh, to provide a toilethaving a closed container with foldable arm members contained thereinwhen folded; eighth, to IE1 provide a toilet having a coveradapted forcompressing a gasket-against the vessel of the toilet; ninth, 'toprovide a toilet assembly having the appearance when closed of a compactsuit case? tenth, to provide a toilet housing having one of its sidesformed by an air tight compartment provided with a hinged door;eleventh, to provide a toilet having a cover positioned by hinge membersadapted for use as hand or arm rests; twelfth, to provide a liningmember adapted to operate as a hinge member; thirteenth, to provide atoilet assembly having a compartment for storing a deflector membertherein when said deflector is not in use; fourteenth, to provide atoilet housing having means for holding a cover member or a deflectormember therein; and flfteenth, to provide a toilet with arm or handrests having a shock absorbing covering thereon.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toilet in anopen position; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the toilet in a closedposition; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the toilet taken on the line 33,Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a side elevation'of the protective member for 40 thecover of the toilet; Fig. 5, a setional view of a portion of the toileton the line iii-J, Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the deflectormember; Fig. 7, a sectional view of the deflector member taken on theline l-l, Fig. 6, said sectional view 45 disclosing by dotted lines, theparts associated with said deflector member; Fig. 8, a sectional view ofthe deflector member in its compartment in the toilet, said sectionalview being taken on the line 9-8, Fig. 1; Fig. 9, a side elevation ofthe 50 hinge'portion of one of the folding arms of the toilet; Fig. 10,a plan view of the hinge portion of the folding arm disclosed in Fig. 9;Fig. 11, a side elevation of one of the folding arms in its foldedposition; Fig. 12, a sectional view through 55 a portion of acompartment door and lining members therefor; and Fig. 18', a sectionalview of one of the hinge members to disclose its cross sectionalconstruction. f

Similar numerals refer to parts throughout. the several views:

The toilet assembly A is designed for use as a portable unit for use intravelling and also for use for invalids. Thetoilet assembly A may beconstructed with the housing portion B which may be made, as disclosed,in the form of a small suit case which can be easily and securelycarried in an inconspicuous way and can be easily and quickly made readyfor use by opening the cover or lid of the case. 3

The toilet housing B may be made of wood, leather, wicker material, orany other'suitable material, said housing preferably being constructedof a light and sturdy material that will render the toilet assembly Aeasily handled or carried and at the time provide a secure support forthe toilet seat and associated parts.

The housing B is constructed with the ,end walls I and 2, the side wall3 and the bottom wall 4, the other side wall being formed by the wallsof the compartment 5 as hereinafter disclosed, said walls being suitablyand securely fastened together to provide a sturdy construction. Thetoilet housing B is provided with the upper wall portion 6 which isprovided with the opening I extending therethrough and connecting withthe chamber 8 inside of' the toilet housing B.' The shape of the openingI issuch that the vessel or pan 9 will assemble therein, the body of thevessel 9 extending into the chamber 8, the vessel 9 being provided withthe flange Iii around its peripheral edge, the flange l0 fitting withinthe recess ll of the upper wall portion 8, the recess ll extendingaround the edge of the opening I, the flange Ill thus supporting thevessel 9 on the upper wall portion 6. The vessel 9 may be constructedwith an elliptical shape or of any other desired shape, and said vesselmay also be provided with an irregular portion l2 forming a spout orfunnel'shaped extension to permit the contents of the vessel 9 to beeasily poured or emptied therefrom, the flange ill being formed toextend around the edge of said irregular portion I! to form a continuousflange Ill around the entire periphery of the vessel 9.

The upper wall portion 6 may be provided with the recesses II to extendunderthe flange l9 and connect with the opening 8.

The recesses l3 may be of suitable length to permit the fingers of thehand to be inserted under the flange I ii to permit the vessel and itscontents to be easily lifted and removed from its supported position inthe toilet assembly A. The recesses l3 may also be constructed, ifdesired, to extend under the flange l6 sufliciently only to permit roomfor a flnger hold on the flange II. the recesses l3 thus stopping shortof the opening 3.

The edges of the recesses l3 will be rounded to prevent any injury tothe hands.

The upper wall portion 6 is provided with the holes or' recesses l4, oneof which is shown in section in Fig. 5. The holes l4 may be closed attheir lower ends as shown or they may extend through the wall portion 6.The holes l4 are located in positions adjacent the peripheral edge ofthe flange ill of the vessel 3. The cover member I5 is constructed ofsuitable material such as rubber composition or similar material whichmay be secured between two surfaces to prevent liquids or gases frompassing thereby. Also it is preferable to construct said cover member IIof suitable material as will permit of ready cleansing and renovatingwithout injury to same.

The cover member I! is provided with the extensions i 6 which areadapted to flt within the holes l4 of the upper wall portion 6 to locatethe cover member in a flxed position relative to the vessel 9. The covermember l5 will extend' over the upper surface of the flange ill of thevessel 9 and also over portions of the upper surface of the wall portion6 thus forming a cover to prevent any of the contents of the vessel 9from splashing out against the surface I! of the cover I3 which ishinged at is to the toilet housing B. The cover 16 is provided with aportion 20, which may extend from the surface l1, and which is adaptedto contact and clamp securely a portion of the cover member I! againstthe upper surface of the flange Iii of the vessel 3, the portion 26 ofthe cover l8 being located to extend in conformity with the generalshape or contour of the flange ID, the portion 20 being of such a shapeand cross section as will present no sharp corners or edges to injure aperson leaning against the surface H, the portion 20 being joined to thesurface I! by sufliciently curved surfaces to accomplish same.

When the cover I 8 is in its closed position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,and 5, the portion 20 thereof will clamp the cover member l5 securelyagainst the upper surface of the flange l0 of the vessel 9 and not onlyprevent any of the contents from splashing out of the vessel 9 but alsowill prevent any odors or gases from escaping therefrom, the clampingaction of the portion 20 deforming the material of the cover member I!as a gasket member to provide an air tight seal around the flange Ill,the upper surface of said flange I 0 being constructed approximatelylevel and smooth to aid in maintaining the air tight seal.

The cover l8 may be secured in its closed and sealing positions bysuitable locking members indicated at 2| on the housing B and at 22 onthe cover IS. The cover I 8 may be pivotally moved on the hinges I! tothe open position, as disclosed in Fig. 1, in which position the coverl8 may be used as the back support of the toilet housing B when saidhousing is used as a chair, the cover 18 being limited to apredetermined position by the hinge members 23 and 24 which arepreferably constructed of a section presenting no sharp edges in Orderthat said hinge members .23 and 24 may be used as hand or arm rests whensaid housing B is used as a chair. Also to facilitate the use of themembers 23 and 24 as hand or arm rests, the central portion 26 of saidmembers may be covered with rubber composition or similar material whichwill not only afford a shock cushioning means but also a morecomfortable hand rest or grip means, said construction of said membersbeing disclosed in the cross section of one of said members, Fig. 13.

The upper wall portion 6 of the housing B is constructed with cut awayportions at each of its sides to form the ledges 26 which extend to thesurfaces 21 which may be located at the required distance from theoutside of the housing B to permit the members 23 and 24 to move totheir folded positions, as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 11 in whichpositions the members 23 and 24 extend adjacent one another, one of saidmembers extending adjacent the surface 21 and one of said membersextending adjacent the inner surface of the flanges 26 which is suitablyattached to the cover It, said flanges 26 extending to a positionadjacent the ledges 21 to eifectually cover and hide from view, themembers 23 and 24 when the cover It is in its closed position. It is tobe noted that the flanges 26 should be'constructed with no sharp cornersor edges to injure a person in using the toilet assembly B. The ledges26extend for a portion only of the length of the sides of the housing B,the length of said ledges 26 being sumcient to receive there adjacent,the members 23 and 24 in their folded positions. Similarly the flanges23 extend for a portion only of the length of the sides of the cover l3,the length of said flanges being sufllcient to flt within the length ofledges 26 and to effectually hide the members 23 and 24 from view whenthe cover' It is in its closed position in the toilet assembly A. Themembers 23 and 24 are pivotally connected by a rivet 29 or othersuitable means while the member 24 is pivotally connected to theportion, of the housing B, adjacent the surface 21 by a pin 30 or othersuitable means. The member 23 may be provided with the offset portion 3iand the flattened portion 32 for pivotally fastening said member 23 tothe member 24, said member 24 being provided with a similar flattenedportion 33, the flattened portions 32 and 33 and the offset portion 3!permitting the members 23 and 24 to move adjacent eachother to theirfolded positions as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 11.

Each of the members 23 is pivotally connected to one of the flanges 28by a pin 34 or other suit able means. The member 24 is provided with theradial portion 35 which facilitates the movement of the member 23 fromits upright position, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 9, to its foldedposition, as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 11. Also the member 24 is providedwith the extension portion 36 which is provided with the surface 31which contacts with the surface of the ledge 26, when the members 23 and24 are in their open or unfolded positions, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and9, the extension portion 36 thus limiting the opening movements of themembers 23 and 24 which in turn limits the opening movement of the coverI3 and provides means for supporting the cover It in a predeterminedopen position when a person uses the cover II as the back of a chair.

The housing B is provided with the compartment 5 which may be ofsuflicient length to accommodate the door 38 which is provided with thehinges 33, the door 33 thus being located so that it forms the outsidewall of the housing B.

The inside wall of the compartment 5 is formed by the wall portion 40which extends adjacent the wall of the vessel 3. The ends of thecompartment may be formed by the end walls I and 2 of the housing B, thetop wall of the compartment 5 may be formed by the upper wall portion 5and the bottom wall of the compartment 5 may beformed by the bottom wall4. The compartment 5 is provided with the lining 4| which is preferablyconstructed of water proof material such as rubber composition or ofsimilar material, said lining thus permitting the compartment 5 to beused for the storage of the usual infants or invalids fabric or othermaterials when damp without injury to the housing B and without theinconvenience of carrying such materials separately. A portion of thelining 42 may be secured to the door 4 as disclosed in Figs. 3' and 12,the lining 42, which is secured to the door 4, extending under thelining 4| which is secured to the inside of the wall 4. Thus the lining42 can movably operate with the door 4 due to the resilient materialused for the lining, the

, lower portion 43, of the portion 42, forming a second hinged liningmember that will effectually 4 prevent any leakage from the compartment5 at its lower portion. Also the lower portion 43 of the lining 42 maybe extended up the sides of the ends of the compartment 5 as indicatedat 44, said portions 44 being attached to the inside wall surfaces ofthe ends of the compartment 5 at points adjacent the door 38 so that thelining may be stretched by the opening movement of the door 38 to formthe portions 45, as disclosed by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the door38 is opened, the portions 45 effectually preventing any leakage fromthe compartment 5 past the ends of the door 38, the portions 45 tendingto form hinge portions which may be utilized to tend to resilientlyclose the door or the portions 45. may be provided with folded orconvoluted portions to maintain closed ends for the door when openwithout exerting any tendency to close the door. Also the portions 45and the portions 43 may be carried to a partial portion of the height asshown or they may be extended to the upper wall portion 6. Also thelining 4| may be provided with the extension portion 46 which forms aresilient gasket member which resiliently contacts the upper portion ofthe door 38 in its 7 closed position to seal the door 38 at its upperside, as disclosed in Fig. 3, to further prevent any leakage from thecompartment 5 even when the toilet assembly A is carried or handled invarious positions. The door 38 may be provided with suitable lockingmeans as indicated at4l and also with a handle means as indicated at 48.The toilet assembly A is provided with the handle 49 to permit thetoilet assembly A to be easily handled and carried. 4

The deflector member 50, disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, is provided for theuse of male infants to prevent soiling or injury to the toilet assemblyA or to the clothes of the infant, the deflector member 50 being soconstructed asto provide the chamber or recess 5|, the walls 52 of therecess 5| being inclined and extended. on three of its sides to thecurved wall portion 53 at their upper ends, the chamber 5| being open onits side T facing the vessel 9. The deflector member 50 is provided withthe curved flange portion 53' which fits snugly into the irregularportion l2 of the vessel 9, the deflector member 50 being furtherprovided with the extension portion 54 which fits into one of therecesses H in the upper wall portion 6 of the housing B, the recess |4being used for this purpose being the one at the front of the toiletassembly B and adjacent the irregular portion l2 of the vessel 5. Thedotted lines in Fig. 7, indicate the relative position of the vessel Iand the deflector member 50 assembled therewith. The deflector member 50is preferably made of resilient and liquid proof material such as rubbercomposition or similar material. The extension portion 54 together withthe curved flange 53' will maintain the deflector member 50 in anupright stable position, the extension portion 54 fitting within therecess l4 in a similar manner to theextension l5 of the cover member I5.The housing B is provided with the recess 54' which is formed with thewall portions 55 which connect with the upper wall portion 6. The recess54 is lined with a liquid proof lining 58 in a similar way to thecompartment 5, the lining 56being provided with a flange portion 51extending adjacent the edge of the recess and adiacent the upper surfaceof theupper wall portion 5. The closed lower end of the recess54' isprovided with a curved shape to conform to the curved wall portion 53'of the deflector member 50 which is stored within the recess 54', asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, when said deflector member 55 isnot in use as a deflector means.

It is to be noted that I have thus provided, in my invention, a toiletwhich is readily portable for the use of infants and invalids whentravelling in automobiles, railways, etc.- where it is desired toprovide a safe, sanitary, and inconspicuous unit for such purposes. Thegeneral external appearance of my invention may be that of a compact andattractive suit case while the general inside appearance may be that ofa compact and efficient chair or seat unit, the inside appearance beingreadily adapted to be presented in dainty bathroom colors and designswhich will appeal to the mothers of infants or those who are responsiblefor the care of invalids. The toilet assembly A is readily converted toits open position in which it is ready for use, by unfastening the coverI 8 and pivotally moving it on its hinges 19 to its maximum openposition, as disclosed in Fig. 1, in which position the cover l8 will beautomatically locked and supported by the members 23 and 24 ashereinabove described.

The cover member i5 is' readily removed and after the toilet ,has beenused, the cover member I5 is replaced in position and the cover I8 isagain. fastened in its closed position whereupon the toilet assembly Aisagain ready for portable use without the necessity of emptying thevessel 9, said toilet assembly A being automatically closed to providean air tight case from which the contents of the vessel 9 cannot leakand at the same time preventing any odors escaping therefrom. The use ofthe cover member f'l'5' insures the inside surface ll of the hingedcoveri8 being always free and clean from any splash or soiling from thecontents of the vessel 9 and permitting at all times the use of thecover l8 as a rest support without soiling or injury to the clothes ofthe infant or invalid. When the' toilet assembly A is cleaned at the endof the journey.

move to a fully'open and reclined position or suitable supports may beadded to limit its movement to any desired open position. The cover i0ably mounted resilient member 50' may be provided to tend to maintainthe cover is in its open position to prevent accidental closure of thecover It.

It is also to be noted that the flange I! of the lining 88 may beslightly raised above the adjoining surface of the upper wall portion 8to provide a gasket portion to be compressed by the cover I! when in itsclosed position to render the recess 54 air tight to prevent a v escapeof 2 liquid or odors that may accumulate from storing the deflectormember 50 inthe recess N", the compressing of the flange 51 beingsimilar to that in which the cover member I! is compressed by theportion 20, the flange I1 being raised sufliciently above the surface ofthe upper wall portion 8 to-permit the cover It to contact said flange51 sufficiently to render the recess or chamber 54' air tight withoutproviding another extension portion, similar to 20, thus preserving amore balanced appearance of the cover is.

I claim:

1. In a toilet provided with a vessel having a flange around itsperiphery, the combination of a housing provided with a chamber havingan opening in one of its sides, said housing being provided with arecess for receiving the flange of said vessel, said housing beingprovided with recesses adjacent the flange of said vessel to permit theinsertion of a portion of a hand of a person therein to lift saidvessel, said housing being further provided with a plurality ofrecesses, a flexible cover member provided with extension portionsfltting in the recesses of the housing, said cover member extending overthe vessel, said cover member contacting the flange of said vessel, acover hinged on said housing, said cover being provided with anextension portion for compressing said flexible .cover member againstthe flange of said vessel when said cover is in its closed position, andhinge members connected to said cover and said housing, said hingemembers being foldable below the upper surface of said housing, saidhinge members being adapted for use as arm rests.

2. In a toilet, the combination of a vessel having an open side andprovided with an irregular portion forming a spout together with aflange extending around said vessel and its spout, a housing providedwith an opening for receiving the vessel together with its irregularportion forming a spout, said housing being further provided with adepression provided with a depressed surface having a shoulder having aheighth substantially equal to the thickness of said flange of saidvessel, a resilient member covering the open side of said vessel, saidresilient member extending over the flange of said vessel and over theshoulder of said depressed surface of said housing, and cover means forclosing the housing and maintaining said vessel in its assembledposition in said housing.

3. In a toilet, the combination of a housing provided with an opening, avessel extending through said opening and provided with a flangeengaging the edge portions of the opening of said housing, a resilientmember covering said vessel, and a cover member suitably mounted andprovided with a p rtion, having a similar shape tothat of the flange ofsaid vessel, for compressing said resilient member into contact with theflange sel, said means being provided with a plurality of recessesclosed at one of their ends and adjacent said vessel, 9. cover memberprovided with a plurality of projections engaging the closed recesses ofsaid means to flx said cover member in its assembled position, saidcover member extending across and contacting the upper surface of saidvessel adjacent its periphery to fully close the open side of saidvessel, and a second cover suitably mounted and adapted to engage saidfirst mentioned cover member only at points adjacent the open side ofsaid vessel.

5. In a toilet; the combination of a housing, an open vessel supportedadjacent its open side in said housing, a cover pivotally supported onsaid housing and provided with an embossed portion, and a removablymounted flexible member interposed between the open side of said vesseland said cover to close the open side of said vessel, said flexiblemember being contacted by the embossed portion of said cover.

6. In a toilet, the combination of a housing, a vessel mounted in saidhousing, a resilient member covering said vessel, and a cover memberprovided with a raised portion for engaging said resilient member solelyat points adjacent the edge of said vessel to cause said cover member toconcentrate pressure for compressing said resilient member against saidvessel.

7. In a toilet, the combination of ahousing, a vessel mounted in saidhousing, a resilient member closing said vessel, and a member coveringand engaging said resilient member, said last mentioned member beingprovided with a projecting portion extending longitudinally in a pathconforming substantially to the shape of said vessel for concentratingpressure to force said resilient member into engagement with saidvessel.

8. Ina toilet, the combination of a housing provided with a chamberprovided with a wall portion having an opening therein, a vesselextending through said opening and having a peripheral flange forsupporting said vessel on said housing, a flexible cover member coveringand closing said vessel. and a second cover member provided with anembossed portion having a shape conforming substantially to theperipheral flange of said vessel and adapted to contact and compresssaid flexible cover member against the peripheral flange of said vessel.

9. In a toilet, the combination of a housing having a wall portionprovided with an opening therethrough, said wall portion being furtherprovided with a plurality of holes therein, an open vessel extendingthrough the opening of said wall provided with a supporting wallportion, a vessel having an open side and mounted on and extendingthrough the supporting wall portion of said housing, a cover memberpivotally mounted on said housing and provided with an embossed ribportion, and a gasket member interposed between said vessel and saidcover member to close said vessel and to prevent the contents of saidvessel from contacting said cover member, said gasket member having itscentral portion extending across the open side of said vessel, saidgasket member having an area equal to or exceeding the projected area ofthe uppermost portion of said vessel, said gasket member being contactedby said embossed rib portion of said cover member pivotally mounted onsaid housing.

11. In a toilet, the combination of a vessel provided with an open sidetogether with a flange porting said vessel, the uppermost surfaces ofsaid wall portion and said flange being substantially flush with oneanother, a cover member pivotally mounted on said housing and providedwith a relatively narrow embossed portion of substantially the sameshape as the flange of said vessel, and a flexible member extendingbetween said vessel and said cover member to cover the total area ofsaid open side of said vessel and said flange to close said vessel toprevent the contents of said vessel from contacting said cover member,said flexible member being forced to engage the flange of said vessel bysaid embossed portion of said cover member with a maximum pressure.

CATHERINE T. GIBLET'I'E.

